MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) – Minsk played host to a meeting of the working group on coordination of cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the city of Moscow chaired by Minsk Mayor Vladimir Kukharev on 15 December, BelTA has learned.
The delegation of the Moscow government is led by the head of the Department for Foreign Economic and International Relations of the city of Moscow Sergei Cheremin.
The parties reviewed the bilateral cooperation and the progress in the plan of program action of the Republic of Belarus and the city of Moscow to develop cooperation in trade, economy, science, technology , humanitarian, cultural and social affairs 2020-2022. The parties also discussed the cooperation in industry, supplies of Belarus-made utility and passenger vehicles, housing construction and overhaul, etc.
Vladimir Kukharev hailed close cooperation with Moscow and great prospects for cooperation in industrial, construction, humanitarian and other sectors.
"There are very good prospects for the supply of buses, electric buses. We discussed cooperation in construction, renovation of housing stock and metro construction in Moscow. In particular, our design institute sees not only prospects in the Moscow market, but also the opportunity to work together with Mosmetroproekt in the international market," Vladimir Kukharev noted.
In January-October 2021, Moscow ranked second among the regions of Russia in terms of exports of Belarusian goods. Trade amounted to $3,734.6 million (up by 27% year-on-year). Exports totaled $2,478.9 million (up by 28.3%), imports came to $1,255.7 million (up by 24.5%). There was an increase in the supply of cars, footwear with a top made of genuine leather, bars made of unalloyed steel, freight rail or tram cars, cheese and cottage cheese, hosiery, dried, salted and smoked fish , specific goods, butter, furniture and its parts increased. There was a drop in the supply of medical devices and appliances, beef, flowers and some other goods.
“We need to continue to build on these results. If there are any issues and problems, they must be solved,” Vladimir Kukharev said.
Sergei Cheremin drew attention to the importance of trade cooperation, especially what concerns food products. According to him, Belarusian products especially dairy products account for about 20% of Moscow's food imports. Belarusian food product fairs are regularly held in various districts of Moscow.
Many Belarusian-made vehicles are used by Moscow municipal utilities and services; the population especially appreciates modern, environmentally friendly electric vehicles, and the possibility of new deliveries and joint production is under discussion. Some 28 different agreements have been signed with Belarusian partners in education. Visits at the expert level and online meetings.
“The level of interaction has not changed this year and remains fruitful and promising. It is important for us to continue cooperation in all sectors, especially regional interaction,” Sergei Cheremin said.
The Russian delegation is set to have a number of meetings and visit the Hi-Tech Park and the Innovation Center Horizont.
Sergei Cheremin proposed to hold the next meeting of the working group in Moscow. "We agreed that next year we will draw up a new cooperation program for 2023-2025. I hope that 2022 will be fruitful and a turning point in our cooperation. I am sure that the ties between Belarusian partners and Moscow companies and the Moscow government will be growing stronger. Belarus remains one of our strategic partners," he said.
